The Nashville-bred rock band previewed “My Whole World,” the first single from their forthcoming album O My Beloved. The new track offers a nostalgic look at family, shared memories and the way time changes the meaning of the moments we once took for granted.
Written from a deeply personal place, “My Whole World” emerged during a difficult period for the band’s frontman, Caleb Followill, after he broke his foot while Kings of Leon were working on new music and preparing to tour. Confined to his home, Followill picked up his guitar and found the beginnings of the song.
Followill shared. “We were working on new music and we were about to go on tour and I felt like I was letting everyone down.” After spending a week at home, he began playing guitar and “My Whole World” came together almost instinctively. “I sang along and I got a little emotional as the words quickly came together. It was like it was there all along and I was too busy to notice.”
The song reflects on the comfort and importance of family life, using everyday memories and traditions to capture a larger appreciation for the life built over the years. Its lyrics evoke a familiar family gathering beneath a pin oak tree, passing around recipes and making room for another serving:
“Underneath the pin oak tree
Pass family recipes
They’ll bring you to your knees
Make room for seconds, please”
As more songs began to emerge, Followill recognized a common thread connecting the material. The new album became centered on gratitude, appreciation and the people and experiences that shaped the band along the way.
“This album is a love letter to our family and to the bumpy road that led us to this beautiful place,” Followill said. That perspective gives O My Beloved a more intimate foundation, with “My Whole World” introducing an album that looks inward at family, love and the passage of time. The project also includes “Love Of Mine,” continuing the record’s emotional focus on the relationships and experiences closest to the band.
This week, the Nashville band also performed “My Whole World” in a unique setting, taking the stage at The Basement East for an intimate all-ages show where tickets were sold exclusively in person, offering fans a rare opportunity to experience the new music up close.
“My Whole World” was released September 10 and marks the beginning of the rollout for O My Beloved, which will arrive in full on November 6.
